Police will have to pay back speeding fines totalling approximately $50,000 after a camera site in Auckland was found to have broken the rules.
Up to 650 tickets issued to drivers on State Highway 16 in Kumeū are now being reviewed after a concerned motorist queried the location of the camera van.
He said it was too close to where the limit drops from 80km/h to 50km/h – and police now agree. They have apologised and will pay the fines back.
The area’s Road Policing Director admitted in a response released under the Official Information Act this week that the mobile speed camera site on SH16 “does not comply with current police policy regarding being positioned no less than 200m from a point where a speed limit reduces”.
Superintendent Steve Greally added: “Police have begun a review of all the deployments at this site, with the intention of reversing any affected infringement notices issued to westbound vehicles. In other words, those transitioning from the higher speed limit to the lower speed limit.”
Between January 2024 and April 2025, 650 infringement notices were issued to westbound motorists between Old Railway Road and John McDonald Lane in Kumeū. They totalled around $50,000 in fines.
Under the law, speed limit changes take effect at the signpost, which means drivers should reduce their speed before reaching a lower limit sign.
However, mobile speed cameras must not be positioned within 200m of a point where the posted speed limit reduces, or within 100m if advance advisory signs are in place warning motorists of the approaching reduction, according to police rules.
The speed camera in Kumeū was placed 178m from the speed limit change. For static cameras, the minimum distance is 250m.
Public trust
Road safety commentator Clive Matthew-Wilson said the reversal of hundreds of tickets could undermine public trust in enforcement.
“It’s incredibly important that when there are police enforcing speed laws, they obey the rules for that enforcement. Otherwise, the police will alienate the public, and the public will lose faith in the police,” Matthew-Wilson, editor of motoring site the Dog and Lemon Guide, said.
“It’s great that, in this case, they have recognised they screwed up and that they’ve fixed the problem. I hope that that’s going to be an ongoing process.”
He said there were misplaced perceptions that police were engaging in revenue gathering themselves. “That’s not true. Police don’t get the revenue.”
But Matthew-Wilson said the misplaced perceptions made it all the more important that police were carefully enforcing the rules.
Police Inspector Peter McKennie, infringement transformation manager, apologised for the error and said all affected infringement notices would be reversed.
“Police have identified up to 650 infringement notices with a total value of approximately $50,000, which may be eligible to be reversed.”
He told 1News: “These notices were lawfully issued as the speed limit applies at the point where the speed limit signs are posted. The decision to reverse these notices does not create an excuse for speeding.
“All motorists should comply with speed limits at all times and police will continue to deliver record levels of road safety prevention and enforcement activity to make our roads safer for everyone.”
McKennie said police were working to confirm the exact number of drivers affected and will “follow standard processes for reversing notices and payments”.
“This includes notifying the Ministry of Justice for any infringement notices that are pending a court hearing or fines collection. There are no demerit points issued for camera-detected offences.”